Jayson’s Reviews > Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix > Status Update

Amen

Shaina wrote: "Amen"

😁👍

Cho was over-rated.

Tahera wrote: "Cho was over-rated."

I totally agree. Her only defining characteristics are that she's athletic and pretty. She's basically a female Cedric, except we actually got to know Cedric and his family a bit.

Cho is the kind of girl that Reeta Skeeter thinks Hermione is 😆 running after popular boys🤦‍♀️💁🏽‍♂️never liked her for various reasons 😀

Amber wrote: "Cho is the kind of girl that Reeta Skeeter thinks Hermione is 😆 running after popular boys🤦‍♀‍💁🏽‍♂‍never liked her for various reasons 😀"

That's a good point! I've never thought of it before. She is somewhat of a clout chaser. Personally, I dislike her because she isn't interesting. But, perhaps that's the point... that she isn't interesting at all, though Harry's attracted to her superficially, and he slowly learns that there's not much there. 🤔

Exactly!! Apart from being uninteresting, she comes off as petty and like u said superficial, not my cup of tea 😬
Well good for Harry, he sure is a slow learner.😂

I think Cedric still had a lot of substance in his character. Like Amber said, Cho was the kind of person who just wanted to be seen with the popular crowd. She dated Cedric because he was the flavour of the year in book 4 and when he died and the general interest shifted to Harry, she became interested in Harry.

She was not loyal to Cedric at all. I mean...HE DIED!! Maybe take a break for one year... but no. She was just ‘on to the next man!’

Amber wrote: "Exactly!! Apart from being uninteresting, she comes off as petty and like u said superficial, not my cup of tea 😬
Well good for Harry, he sure is a slow learner.😂"

I think Cho has that sort of Krum and Lavender effect, where their only purpose for existing is to make Harry and the reader open their eyes and prefer another relationship for him.

I actually kind of thought Krum was an interesting character, because despite his fame he was uncomfortable in the spotlight, he wasn't overly competitive or aggressive, and he was willing to learn more about Hogwarts, other people, and Britain, so he was generally pretty open-minded. I thought his character would be more interesting to explore because he had those hidden personality traits. Meanwhile Cho is just...Cho.

Tahera wrote: "I think Cedric still had a lot of substance in his character. Like Amber said, Cho was the kind of person who just wanted to be seen with the popular crowd. She dated Cedric because he was the flav..."

Yes, Cedric certainly did grow as a character once we got to know him. The reason I compare him to Cho is that in "Prisoner of Azkaban" they are pretty much the male and female version of the same person: Quidditch seeker, athletic, good looking. Eventually we learned a lot about Cedric, whereas Cho pretty much stayed uninteresting.

Cedric and Cho seem like one of those school couples that would inevitably get together. If he was the flavor of the year, she would have been too as the most popular fifth year girl. I doubt the reasons Cedric was with her was any more deep or multifaceted than the reasons Harry wanted to get with her.

Tessa HC (onceuponabookworm) wrote: "She was not loyal to Cedric at all. I mean...HE DIED!! Maybe take a break for one year... but no. She was just ‘on to the next man!’"

Cho strikes me as the kind of girl who can't stand ever being single, even for a moment. She just needs to have that part of her life filled. I can understand the mindset, but it's always rubbed me the wrong way whenever I've seen it in fiction and in real life.

AspiringAuthor wrote: "I actually kind of thought Krum was an interesting character, because despite his fame he was uncomfortable in the spotlight, he wasn't overly competitive or aggressive, and he was willing to learn..."

You're right about that. Krum is definitely much more interesting. The thing I love about Krum is how miffed he gets when Ron spoils his plans with Hermione. Like at the Yule Ball when he goes to get drinks and comes back to find out that Hermione's left to argue with Ron, or at Bill and Fleur's wedding, when he goes to talk with Hermione but Ron abruptly asks her to dance. Uncomfortable is certainly the right word to describe him.

Still, outside of being a Triwizard champion, his only function in the narrative is to be the third wheel in the love triangle, which is why I make the comparison to Cho. Otherwise, there's no comparison in terms of being an interesting and empathetic character.

Really? I feel pretty indifferent towards Cho. She seems like a silly teenager that I would have ignored and avoided but not terribly annoying.

Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "Really? I feel pretty indifferent towards Cho. She seems like a silly teenager that I would have ignored and avoided but not terribly annoying."

I don't really find her annoying so much as a terrible waste of an opportunity. Ron and Hermione had memorable love interests in Lavender and Krum. On the whole they added to the books and made things more interesting. Cho just takes up space, and the role of Harry's pre-Ginny love interest could have been given to someone with at least some personality. Really, she's a lot like Dean Thomas in terms of a love interest, just a base-level blank slate.

Jayson wrote: "Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "Really? I feel pretty indifferent towards Cho. She seems like a silly teenager that I would have ignored and avoided but not terribly annoying."

I don't really find he..."

Yeah... she really didn't have much personality or did something important in the plot... Heck! Even Romina did more than her *lol*

Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "Yeah... she really didn't have much personality or did something important in the plot... Heck! Even Romina did more than her *lol*"

Exactly! I would have loved to read more about Romilda Vane. She had more or less the same motivation as Cho, being interested in Harry because of his clout, but with a lot more to her.

You're so right about Hermione and Ron being like an old married couple. *lol* But they basically were right from the beginning. XD They only grew into their roles with time. ;-P
And I agree about Cho! I didn't hate her but she was such a dull character. We know next to nothing about her except of that she's still grieving for Cederic and that she's always surrounded by other girls and apparently pretty popular. There's no substance to her character and I always thought that Harry could do so much better than that. But then again maybe that was Rowling's goal all along. We're not supposed to ship her with Harry. *lol*

Virginia Ronan wrote: "You're so right about Hermione and Ron being like an old married couple. *lol* But they basically were right from the beginning. XD They only grew into their roles with time. ;-P
And I agree about ..."

Ron and Hermione are able to pull off that rare feat of being an old married couple before being a young married couple. lol. It's a testament to how much they actually enjoy each other's company that they can have heated arguments and still want to be around each other. Arguing is totally their thing, and something that Harry can't seem to understand.

I think it may have been intentional for Harry to be attracted to Cho simply because she's attractive. It's a lesson in valuing personality above superficiality. That said, she could have still been interestingly dull.

I didn't hate Cho much until i read the books and now i hate the fact that she was the only Asian main character and she turned to be like this.

Sakshi wrote: "I didn't hate Cho much until i read the books and now i hate the fact that she was the only Asian main character and she turned to be like this."

Well, Parvati always has some lines and played a notable role in "Goblet of Fire," but I get what you're saying. Cho's had focus on her since the third book and it's disappointing she turned out as bland up close as she was at a distance.

I think diversity was always a problem in HP series 🤨
There are POC characters but they are just there
They are not given much character development nor do they play much significant role in books
Same goes with the movies
I was so excited to see The Yule Ball because Padma and Parvati would make an appearance
But the costumes they were given were so bland
In books the description of the Yule ball dress was spectacular
And the movies spoiled them😒

Totally,I was waiting for the Yule ball scene,but then I got so disappointed seeing their costumes.

Mrinmayi wrote: "I think diversity was always a problem in HP series 🤨
There are POC characters but they are just there
They are not given much character development nor do they play much significant role in books..."

Personally, I've never been all that concerned with diversity in my books and things, but I understand that for some people it's very important. I will say that non-white characters like Parvati, Cho Chang, Angelina Johnson, Dean Thomas, Lee Jordan, among others, on the whole, play a much larger role in the books than the likes of Seamus Finnegan, Hannah Abbott, Ernie McMillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, and other white students among the supporting cast. Pretty much, if you're not Harry, Hermione, or any of the Weasleys, the POC students do get a bigger spotlight than the non-POC students, so far as background players go. Though, you're right where it concerns teachers, the main characters and people not at Hogwarts.

I find costumes in the films are bland in general. They're too real world, and not at all the brightly colored robes and hats from the books.

Sophrosyne wrote: "Totally,I was waiting for the Yule ball scene,but then I got so disappointed seeing their costumes."

Understandable. It's often the case with adaptations that watching another person's interpretation of the source material will only pale in comparison to your own imagination. Costumes, specifically, were deliberately toned down. So, I found it unsurprising.

Jayson wrote: "Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "Yeah... she really didn't have much personality or did something important in the plot... Heck! Even Romina did more than her *lol*"

Exactly! I would have loved to rea..."

Can you imagine seeing Harry being woed by Romina? It would have been a) relatable and b) so funny!

Wasted opportunity.

It's actually kind of funny how Rowling did such a poor job at establishing the MC's love interest but did an at least interesting one with Ron and Hermione -depending on who you ask.

Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "Can you imagine seeing Harry being woed by Romina? It would have been a) relatable and b) so funny!

Wasted opportunity."

Totally agree. Though, Romilda Vane is too much like Lavender, in the sense of being a bit crazy, a bit desperate, and a bit stalkerish. In different books, perhaps that would work. But it would be crazy girlfriend overload if they were both in "Half-Blood Prince."

Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "It's actually kind of funny how Rowling did such a poor job at establishing the MC's love interest but did an at least interesting one with Ron and Hermione -depending on who you ask."

Ginny's love interest as well. I can't say I know much at all about Dean Thomas, apart from him being Seamus' best friend and arguing with Ginny all the time.

Jayson wrote: "Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "Can you imagine seeing Harry being woed by Romina? It would have been a) relatable and b) so funny!

Wasted opportunity."

Totally agree. Though, Romilda Vane is too mu..."

You raise a valid point. In another book it would have been hilarious and actually nice.

Exactly what I meant -though, I'll admit I didn't explain it properly - neither Harry nor Ginny have any decent love interests through the series. They were just their not-Harry-not-Ginny love interests.

Alexandra Elend Wolf wrote: "neither Harry nor Ginny have any decent love interests through the series. They were just their not-Harry-not-Ginny love interests."

Mrinmayi wrote: "I think diversity was always a problem in HP series 🤨
There are POC characters but they are just there
They are not given much character development nor do they play much significant role in books..."

Totally agree! I hated what they did to Parvati and Padma's outfits. It seemed like they made them bland on purpose so the main characters like Hermione would look more stunning.

Sakshi wrote: "Totally agree! I hated what they did to Parvati and Padma's outfits. It seemed like they made them bland on purpose so the main characters like Hermione would look more stunning."

I wouldn't be surprised. Hermione's always get extra attention and focus in the films. They're always giving her Ron's most insightful lines, for example.

Jayson wrote: "Sakshi wrote: "Totally agree! I hated what they did to Parvati and Padma's outfits. It seemed like they made them bland on purpose so the main characters like Hermione would look more stunning."

I..."
Omg I didn't even notice that!

Sakshi wrote: "Omg I didn't even notice that!"

I always try to make note of it whenever I spot one :)

@Sakhi Panwar
Ikr!!
First the POC characters are ONLY side characters
As if that wasn't enough they had to go and destroy the costumes 🤦🏽‍♀️

Mrinmayi wrote: "@Sakhi Panwar
Ikr!!
First the POC characters are ONLY side characters
As if that wasn't enough they had to go and destroy the costumes 🤦🏽‍♀️"

Exactly ugh!